By Titilope Joseph

Copyright independent

In Nigeria, where courts are notorious for endless adjourn-ment, missing files, and con-gested dockets, stakeholders in the legal sector are intensifying calls for the adoption of technol-ogy to make justice faster, more efficient, and more accessible to ordinary citizens.

The conversation, once seen as futuristic, has now become urgent as lawyers, judges, and policy advo-cates highlight the transformative role that legal technology can play in reshaping the justice system.

For decades, the Nigerian ju-diciary has operated under a pa-per-heavy regime. Lawyers lug around massive files, clerks search endlessly for misplaced records, and litigants are often told to re-turn months later because pro-ceedings cannot continue without a single missing document.

This manual system not only creates inefficiencies but also fuels public mistrust in a system where “justice delayed” has become the norm.

Against this backdrop, the emergence of digital tools in law practice; from e-filing systems and digital research databases to case management software and virtual hearings is being embraced as the next frontier of judicial reform.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some courts, notably the National Industrial Court, demonstrated that technology could sustain jus-tice delivery even when physical hearings were impossible.

Judges sat virtually, lawyers ar-gued cases from their offices, and rulings were delivered electroni-cally.

While many initially dismissed virtual courts as a stopgap mea-sure, the experience revealed a glimpse of what a modernised Ni-gerian judiciary might look like.

Today, the Lagos State Judiciary has taken bold steps in that direc-tion by making e-affidavits manda-tory, while the Federal High Court in Lagos has begun digitising filing processes.

These measures, though still in their infancy, signal a growing recognition that technology is not just desirable but necessary if the justice system is to serve citizens effectively.

Legal experts point to two cen-tral reasons why legal technology has become indispensable: effi-ciency and accessibility. Efficien-cy means reducing the endless ad-journments and cutting down the mountains of paperwork that slow the courts.

Accessibility means ensuring that justice is not the privilege of the wealthy or the elite but avail-able to ordinary Nigerians.

Imagine a tenant in Ogun State who can file a complaint online rather than spending hours trav-elling to a magistrate’s court. Picture a widow in Anambra, pursuing inheritance rights, who can track her case progress on a digital portal rather than paying repeated visits to a registry. For many Nigerians who live outside major urban centres, the ability to access justice digitally could mean the difference between being heard and being ignored.

Legal practitioners, too, are reaping the benefits of technology. Research platforms such as LawPa-vilion and LexisNexis now provide instant access to judgments and le-gal authorities that once required days of searching through dusty law reports.

A Lagos-based lawyer, Akinla-bi Joel, who spoke on the subject noted: “Before, I would spend days combing through authorities. Now, I can access everything I need in-stantly, even on my phone while standing before a judge. It has com-pletely changed my work process.”

Despite these visible gains, adop-tion of legal technology in Nigeria has been uneven. Smaller firms often complain about the high cost of subscriptions to research platforms and case management tools. Poor internet connectivity and erratic power supply also re-main stubborn obstacles.

Equally significant is the human factor. Not all legal professionals are comfortable with digital sys-tems, and some judges prefer the familiarity of manual processes. In certain quarters, there is even qui-et resistance to technology because the inefficiencies of the current system benefit vested interests.

A senior lawyer in Abuja summed up the dilemma: “There is a silent resistance to change. Many still see digital tools as a dis-ruption rather than an opportunity. Unless the judiciary introduces en-forceable standards, adoption will remain optional and inconsistent.”

The push for legal tech is not just coming from within the pro-fession. Civil society groups, re-form advocates, and even business communities are calling for digiti-sation as a way to build trust and stimulate economic growth. Com-panies often face contract disputes or regulatory bottlenecks that drag on for years, discouraging invest-ment. Faster dispute resolution, stakeholders argue, could enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness as an in-vestment destination.

Legal educators also stress the importance of training the next generation of lawyers in digital practice. Universities and law schools are beginning to integrate technology into their curricula, but progress has been slow. With-out deliberate investment in legal tech education, experts warn that Nigerian lawyers may find them-selves lagging behind their coun-terparts in other jurisdictions.

For many Nigerians, the de-bate on legal tech is not abstract but deeply personal. A farmer in Benue whose land has been en-croached upon cannot afford years of litigation. A small business own-er in Lagos who suffers a breach of contract needs swift enforcement to avoid collapse. A victim of do-mestic violence in Rivers State requires immediate protection orders rather than prolonged ad-journments.

These stories shows the urgent need for a system that works for the people it serves. Technology, stake-holders argue, can bridge the gap between lofty legal principles and the everyday realities of citizens.

Momentum Across Africa

Nigeria is not alone in this journey. Other African countries are moving ahead with bold re-forms. Kenya, for example, has established an integrated court management system that allows for e-filing, e-payment, and case tracking. South Africa has made significant progress in digitising its court processes, while Rwanda has built an online dispute resolu-tion system that allows citizens to file cases without setting foot in a courtroom.

Comparisons with these sys-tems highlight Nigeria’s slow pace but also provide roadmaps for re-form. By learning from regional neighbours, Nigerian courts can avoid pitfalls and accelerate their own adoption of technology.

Way Forward

Stakeholders are united in call-ing for stronger leadership from the judiciary. Standardisation is key — without a uniform policy across the federation, some states will continue to advance while oth-ers remain stagnant. Bar associa-tions are also being urged to play a more active role in negotiating af-fordable access to digital platforms for small and medium law firms.

Public awareness campaigns will be essential in ensuring that citizens know how to use digital systems. From filing complaints online to accessing e-affidavits, ordinary Nigerians must be edu-cated on how these platforms work, otherwise reforms risk being un-derutilised.

The clamour for legal technology comes at a critical time when faith in Nigeria’s justice system is at an all-time low. Litigants often describe the courts as places where cases go to die rather than to be resolved. The adoption of technology, many argue, could help restore credibility to an institution that is central to democracy and the rule of law.

By cutting down delays, elimi-nating opportunities for file tam-pering, and making processes more transparent, digital tools could help rebuild trust. If Nige-rians begin to see cases concluded within reasonable timelines, confi-dence in the judiciary could grow once again.

The future of justice in Nigeria will depend largely on how well the judiciary adapts to the digital age. Legal technology is not a cure-all, but it offers the tools to reduce in-efficiency, improve accountability, and expand access to justice.

For a country where citizens have become accustomed to wait-ing years for judgment, the op-portunity for reform cannot be ig-nored. The calls from stakeholders — lawyers, judges, businesses, and ordinary citizens — are becoming louder. They are asking not for mir-acles, but for systems that work in the 21st century.

As one observer put it, “Legal tech is not just about making life easier for lawyers. It’s about giving citizens back their faith in justice.”

If embraced fully, the adoption of digital tools could mark the be-ginning of a new chapter for Ni-geria’s justice system, where the ideals of fairness and speed finally match the lived experience of those seeking redress.